Improvement in machines for splitting hoop-poles



e. B'. SELDEN.

MACHINE FOR SPLI'I'TING HOOP-POLES.

Patented April 17, 1877.

UNITED STATES PATE GEORGE B. SELDEN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SPLITTING HOOP-POLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 89,659, dated April 17, 1877; application filed July 13, 1876.

To all whom it mag concern g Be it known that I, GEORGE B. SELDEN, of

the city of Rochester, in the State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Splitting Hoop-Poles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for splitting hoop-poles; and it consists in combining suitable feeding, centering, and discharging mechanism with a three-part knife, in such a manner that the machine can at will be adapted to splitting poles into two, three, four, or more parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan view, of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an end view of the centering device.

AA is the frame of the machine, and B the driving-shaft, from which power is transmitted to the various working parts of the machine. One or more pairs of feed-rolls are arranged to feed the poles to the knife 0. These rolls D E F G Figs. 1 and 2, are driven from the shaft B by the belts and gears 00 b c d on each side of the machine. An oscillating three-part knife, (3, is located immediately behind the feed-rolls F G. One wing of this knife extends at right angles with the axis of the feed-rolls, and terminates in a socket-piece, 6, Figs. 1 and 3, and the other two wings extend outward and are brought together in a corresponding socket-picce,'f1 The two sockets are provided with journals turning in suitable bearings g h. One of the sockets is provided with an arm, Q3, which is oscillated to and fro by the eccentric j on the shaft 70, which is driven from the main shaft B by an intermediate shaft and the bevels H and I. The edge of the straight wing of the knife corresponds with the center of oscillation of the socket-pieces e and f, so that its posi-' tion is invariable, while the back of the knife oscillates to and fro. The edges of the other wings of the knife change their position slightly during the oscillation; but near the center of the three wings, where the three-part splitting is done, the variation is so little that it may be disregarded. The bearings carrying the socket-pieces are attached to a suitable supporting-plate, L, -Figs. 2 and 3, which also carries the centering-rolls m n o. In between the three wings of the knife 0 are placed three narrow-faced rolls. These rolls are carried by three radial sliding pieces, M N 0, Fig. 3, which are so connected together by means of the racks and gears r s r s that the slides and centering-rolls all recede equally from the center, where the wings of the knife join. One of the slides is provided with a spring, P, by which the slides and centeringrolls are all forced together toward the common center. The slides and gears r s r s are held in place on the plate L by suitable plates, one only'of' which is shown, t, Fig. 3. The bearing it is either attached to these plates or directly to the plate L by passing it through a slotted opening in the slide M. The slides N O, besides their three-part centering rolls, each carry a roll, 0 q, Fig. 3, placed parallel with the straight wing of the knife. These rolls will also recede equally from the straight wing of the knife, and serve as a centering device iu two-part splitting, which is done on the straight wing of the knife.

The same knife and centering apparatus, therefore, serve for either two-part or threepart splitting, and to change from one to the other it is only necessary to alter the position of the plate L crrryin g the knife and centeringrolls with reference to the line of feed through the feeding-rolls. The plate L is arranged to slide in gibs on the side frames, Fig. 2, and its position with reference to the line of feed is controlled by the hand-lever R, or by any other suitable means.

By the use of this lever the operator feeding the machine may quickly adapt the machine to any kind of splitting. A catch, u, secures the lever when the plate L is in its elevated position. The eccentric 9' is splined on the shaft is and travels with the plate M, to which it is connected by a suitable arm, or the pin at the outer end of the armtis lengthened out and slides through the eccentric strap.

It will also be observed that half-poles will be presented to the straight knife by the feeding-rolls in proper position to be resplit. For resplittingthree-part or angular splints, a divided V-grooved feed-roll may be used, (see Fig. 4,) in which each portion of the roll is held up to its work by the springs '0 '0. Each 2 l SD,659

portion of the roller is splined on the shaft. This roll will also feed whole poles or twopart splints.

Behind the knife a suitable dividing-wedge, S, is placed, which guides the two splints in two-part splitting into the pulling-rolls 1 2, 3 4, by which they are discharged out of the machine, and in three-part splitting guides two of the splints into the same rolls, while the third is guided between the V-grooved pulling-rolls 5 6. The pulling-rolls are all driven from the shaft k by suitable gearing. The rolls 2 and 3 revolve in stationary boxes, and the other rolls are held up to their work by suitable springs.

If two pairs of feeding-rollers be used, the pair F G nearest the knife should be so arranged that in three-part splitting they may play freely across the line of feed.

There is also an advantage in splining these rolls on their shafts, and placing a spring between them aud the boxes on each side, as shown in Fig. 2. Two straps, 'v 'v 'v' '0', connect, by means of a rack and gear, the boxes of the rolls E and G with the rock-shafts 7 and 7, Fig. 1. By this means the shafts E and G are compelled to rise evenly, and the bars UU connecting the two straps v c, as the rolls rise, compress the springs W W. The piece X connects the spring W directly with the boxes of the shaft of the feed-roll F. The weight Y, Fig. 1, balances the feed-rolls F and G.

A stationary knife may be used; but I prefer the oscillating knife, even if it be not oscillated positively by the machine, or if it be so connected with the driving-shaft that it may be oscillated or not, at the will of the operator.

The line of feed may be altered by so arranging the feed-rolls that their position may be changed, in which case it would be unnecessary to move the centering-head and plate L. By lengthening the pulling-rollers 1 2, 3 4 a combined machine could thus be constructed; but I prefer to build the machine as herein described.

It is also evident that the movable centering device herein shown may be applied to that class of pole-splitting machines in which the poles are thrust by pressure applied at one end against a knife.

By widening out the machine, lengthening the feeding-rollers, and using two knives, one two-part and one three-part, and adopting suitable pulling rolls, a combined frictionsplitter may be made.

I prefer the simpler and cheaper machine herein described.

I claim- 1. The oscillating three-part knife 0.

2. In combination with suitable feeding mechanism, the oscillating three-part knife 0 and centering-rolls m n o.

3. In combination With the knife 0, the centering-rolls m n 0 and p q.

4. The combination of the movable plate I1. knife 0, and centeringmolls m n o and p q.

5. In combination with Suitable feeding mechanism, the knife 0, centering-rolls m n o and p q, and suitable d scharging-rolls 1 2, 3

6. In combination with suitable feeding mechanism, the movable plate L, carrying the knife 0, and centering ro ls m n 0 a 1 q- 7. In combination with suitable feedin -rollers, the movable plate L, carrying the knife 0, and the centering-rolls m n o and p q, and suitable discharging mechanism.

8. In a machine for splitting hoop-poles, the combination, with a two-part and a three- Part knife, and their respective centering devices, of suitable feeding and discharging rollers, operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination of the knife 0, slides M N 0, rolls m n 0 and p q, and racks and gears 'r' s r s, and plate L, operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE B. SELDEN.

Witnesses:

WALTER W. ADAMS, F. A. MAOOMIBEB. 

